Pilot light



Oct. '7, 1958 5 B. JAHN 2,855,034

PILOT LIGHT Filed Oct. 14, 1955 6/7Q'f/GJ ,5. dab/7 INVENTOR.

@317 Mwg United States Patent i PILOT LIGHT CharlesB. Jahn, Houston,Tex.

Application October 14, 1955, Serial No. 540,526 5 Claims. (Cl. 158115)This invention relates to a pilot light and more particularly to a pilotlight adapted to be exposed to the elements.

There are many instances, particularly in the petroleum production andgathering industry, where it is necessary to employ a pilot light whichis exposed to the elements. For instance, in a separator tank forseparating the oil, gas and water mixture which comes from a producingwell it is frequently desirable to heat the well fluid to facilitatesuch separation. 'This may be accomplished by extending a U-tube-likeburner from the side wall of the separator into the separator. In suchinstances, the pilot light may be located on the exterior of theseparator tank andmust be capable of remaining lit during all types ofadverse weather conditions.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a pilot lightadapted to be exposed to the elements which will remain lit under alltypes of weather conditions.

Another object is to provide a pilot light adapted to be exposed to theelements in which the products of combustion cannot find their way intothe unburned mixture in the mixing tube of the pilot light and possiblysnufl out the flame.

Another object is to provide a pilot light adaptedto be exposed to theelements with a quiescent air chamber from which air in measured amountsmay be drawn an mixed with gas to be burned.

Another object is to provide a simple and economically fabricated pilotlight.

It is another object to provide a pilot light adapted to be exposed tothe elements in which all of the parts are secured to each other bypress fitted or slip joint connections save one bafile which is weldedto the barrel of the pilot light to thereby provide a simple andeconomical structure.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will beapparent from the specification taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing and appended claims.

In the drawing wherein there is shown by way of illustration oneembodiment of this invention, the single figure is an isometric view ofa pilot light constructed in accordance with this invention withone-half of the barrel and separator bafile cut away to illustrate thecon struction of the pilot light and with a portion of the gas linebroken away to expose the metering orifice.

Referring now to the drawing, the barrel of the pilot light ispreferably a'short section of Z-inch'tubing. The barrel mayhesecured toor adjacent a burner in any desired manner; 'The burner illustrated isdesigned to be positioned in an upright position with the axis of thebarrel vertical.

The barrel is divided into an upper combustion chamber 11 and a lowerquiescent air chamber 12 by an annular imperforate separator baflle 13which is preferably welded in position in the barrel to form a sealbetween the two chambers. One-half of baffle 13 is shown in 2,855,034Patented Oct. 7, 1958 the drawing and the other half indicated in dashedoutline. The baflie 13 prevents the products of combustion from enteringthe quiescent air chamber therebelow and prevents cross flow of windthrough the barrel.

A mixing tube 14 is provided for mixing air and gas to be burned in thecombustion chamber. Tube 14 is preferably arranged concentric withbarrel 10 and is press fitted into the separator bafile 13 with itsoutlet end projecting a slight distance above the separator baffle. Atan intermediate section of the tube and within the quiescent air chamberthere are provided inlet ports 15 for admitting air from the quiescentair chamber into the mixing tube to be mixed with gas therein anddelivered to the outlet of the mixing tube.

At the inlet end of mixing tube 14 there is provided a metering orifice16 to meter the desired amount of gas into the mixing tube. It will beunderstood that the velocity of gas rushing past inlet ports 15 willcause a predetermined amount of air to be sucked into the mixing tubethrough ports 15 and mixed with the gas to provide a combustiblemixture.

A gas line 17 is press fitted about the inlet and of mixing tube 14 andis provided at its other end with a threaded portion 18 which may besecured to a gas supply line in the conventional manner.

To close the air chamber and provide a quiescent air chamber 12, an airbaffle 19 is press fitted about gas line 17 and resides within barrel 10in spaced relationship with the imperforate bafiie 13. Air baffle 19will prevent rapid movement of air within the quiescent air chamber 12and permit the jetting action of gas passing through the mixing tube todraw a measured amount of air into the tube through ports 15. To provideair for the quiescent air chamber 12, a plurality of ports 20 are spacedabout the air baflie 19. The air baffle 19 is press fitted about the gasline 17 so that the press fit joint between gas line 17 and mixing tube14 will reside within the quiescent air chamber and any leakage whichmight occur through this joint-will be into the air chamber 12 and bedrawn into the mixing tube 14 through ports 15 with air from thechamber.

A flame guard indicated generally at 21 is provided to protect the flameat the outlet of mixing tube 14' from the elements. The flame guardincludes a flame chamber 22 which has a neck portion 22a which has asliding fit with the outlet of mixing tube 14. The flame chamber 22flares upwardly and outwardly from neck 22a to provide an upstandingwall surrounding the flame at the outlet of the mixing tube to preventthe flame being snufied out by wind. The flame guard also includes anumbrella shield 23 which is positioned immediately above the outlet ofmixing tube 14 and overlies both the mixing tube and flame chamber 22 toprotect them from the elements. Thus, rain, snow or the like fallinginto the upper end of the barrel will strike the umbrella shield 23 andbe prevented from falling into the flame. The umbrella is supported onfour upstanding members 24 which are carried by the flame chamber 22 sothat with removal of. the flame chamber 22 the umbrella shield 23 isalso removed. The center section of umbrella shield 23 is dished inslightly so that the products of combustion will flow from the center ofthe shield outwardly and find their way out of the combustion chamber.

Preferably, all parts of the pilot light are fabricated of rustresistant material to insure long life.

In operation, the pilot light is positioned so that a flame within theflame chamber will ignite a gas burner and gas line 17 is connected to asource of gas. Gas is continuously fed through metering orifice 16 anddue to its velocity, draws air from the air chamber 12 through ports 15into the mixing tube 14 and the combustible mixture is burned at theoutlet of mixing tube 14. The separator baflle prevents the productsofcombustion from reaching the quiescent air chamber and prevents crossflow of Wind through the barrel.

The umbrella shield 23 will become very hot from the pilot flame and theseparator baffle 13 will also be warmed from the flame. Thus, heat willbe provided to evaporate any water'or snow which falls into thecombustion chamber.

From the above, it will be seen that there has been provided a simple,economically fabricated pilot light which may be placed in anunprotected location and which will remain lit under all adverseconditions. It is protected both against the wind and against snow,rain, etc., and against the products of combustion finding their way tothe mixing tube. Only two pieces, the barrel and imperforate baflie arepermanently secured together with all of the other parts either having aslip or press fit. This principle is even carried to the connectionbetween the mixing tube and the gas line where a press fit is used.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth,together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shovsm in the accompanying drawing is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed 1. A pilot lightcomprising, a barrel, a first baffle secured in the barrel andseparating the barrel into an air chamber and a combustion chamber andpreventing the products of combustion from contaminating the air chamberas well as preventing cross flow of air through the barrel, an airbaffle in the barrel spaced from the first battle and closing the openend of the air chamber to provide a quiescent air chamber from which airmay be drawn in measured amounts and mixed with gas, said air bafilehaving a plurality of small holes through which air may pass into theair chamber, a mixing tube extending through the first baflle with itsoutlet end positioned in the combustion chamber adjacent the firstbaflie, said tube having a perforation located in the air chamberthrough which air from the air chamber may be drawn and mixed with gasin the tube to provide a combustible mixture at the outlet of the tubein the combustion chamber, said first baflle forming an imperforateseparation between said air chamber and said combustion chamber exteriorof said mixing tube, and a gas line for delivering gas under pressure tothe mixing tube.

2. The pilot light of claim 1 in combination with a flame guard securedto the outlet end of the mixing tube and having an outwardly flaringflame chamber surrounding the end of the mixing tube and an umbrellashield spaced from and overlying the flame chamber and the outlet of themixing tube to protect the flame within the flame chamber from theelements.

3. The pilot light of claim 1 wherein the gas line is press fitted tothe mixing tube within the quiescent cham- '4 1 her so that any leakagewhich may occur through the press fitting will be drawn into the mixingtube through the air inlet therein.

4. A pilot light comprising, a barrel, a first baflie secured in thebarrel and separating the barrel into an air chamber and a combustionchamber and preventing the products of combustion from contaminating theair chamber as well as preventing cross flow of air through the barrel,a mixing tube concentric with the barrel and extending through the firstbaflle with its outlet end positioned in the combustion chamber adjacentthe first bafile, said tube having a perforation therein in the airchamber through which air from the air chamber may be drawn and mixedwith gas in the tube to provide a combustible mixture at the outlet ofthe tube in the combustion chamber, said first baffle forming animperforate separation between said air chamber and said combustionchamber exterior of said mixing tube, a gas line press fitted to theinlet of the mixing tube and concentric with the mixing tube and barrelfor supplying gas under pressure to the mixing tube, and an air bafliein the barrel spaced from the first baflie and closing the open end ofthe air chamber to provide a quiescent air chamber between the firstbaflie and the air baffle from which air may be drawn in measuredamounts and mixed with gas, said air baffle press fitted on the gas lineand having a plurality of small holes through which air may pass intothe air chamber.

5. A pilot light comprising, a barrel, a first bafiie secured in thebarrel and separating the barrel into an air chamber and a combustionchamber and preventing the products of combustion from contaminating theair chamber as well as preventing cross fiow of air through the barrel,a mixing tube concentric with the barrel and extending through the firstbaflle with its outlet end positioned in the combustion chamber adjacentthe first bafile, said tube having a perforation therein in the airchamber through which air from the air chamber may be drawn and mixedwith gas in the tube to provide a combustible mixture at the outlet ofthe tube in the combustion chamber, said first bafiie forming animperforate separation between said air chamber and said combustionchamber exterior of said mixing tube, a gas line press fitted to theinlet of the mixing tube and concentric with the mixing tube and barrelfor supplying gas under pressure to the mixing tube, an air bafiie inthe barrel spaced from the first baffle and closing the open end of theair chamber to provide a quiescent air chamber between the first baffleand the air baflle from which air may be drawn in measured amounts andmixed with gas, said air baffle press fitted on the gas line and havinga plurality of small holes through which air may pass into the airchamber, and a flame guard in the combustion chamber and secured aboutthe outlet of the mixing tube, said flame guard having an outwardlyflaring flame chamber surrounding the outlet of the mixing tube toprotect the flame therein and an umbrella shield spaced from andoverlying the flame chamber to protect the flame within the flamechamber from the elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 16,031Shaw Nov. 4, 1856 1,390,296 Kirkwood Sept. 13, 1921 2,061,562 CartterNov. 24, 1936 2,642,934 Gunther June 23, 1953 2,704,119 Spitzer Mar. 15,1955

